Is birch sap the new new coconut water?

It's true, coconut water really is over.

May 20, 2014 1:16am

By Noelle Faulkner

Earlier this month we asked if maple water was the new coconut water, but it seems that already there’s another new plant drink on the rise. Birch sap, like maple water, comes from tall, woody trees and has been used by those long-limbed, crystal-skinned Scandinavians for centuries, so naturally, we’re all for it.

According to birch sap die-hards, the clear liquid is a major detoxifier and is high in vitamin C, potassium, manganese, thiamine and calcium; tastes slightly sweet, and contains natural sugars like fructose and xylitol. It’s also been reported that certain brands also contain an extract of super-fungi, the Chaga mushroom, which grows naturally on birch trees and is said to be maxed-out with antioxidants and “anti-viral benefits”.

With coconut water causing havoc on the tiny, tropical communities that harvest the coconuts, the rise in more sustainable plant-based beverages is an obvious prediction, especially considering many of these are grown in completely opposite climates. In fact, many claim harvesting birch sap is so simple, it’s a matter of hammering in a spout into the tree, Hunger Games-style.

Like its coconut-y cousin, birch sap is already available overseas in different crowd-pleasing flavours and if you dig deep enough, you’ll find the internet is awash with claims of the power of other, more obscure liquids like that of olive, artichoke and cactus… it’s only a matter of time before we really see a botanical water boom.